After my recent porch chair makeover, it occurred to me that as a frequent DIYers, John and I probably expose ourselves to a fair amount of chemicals. And the fact that I actually felt woozy and nauseous after ten minutes of spray painting made me wonder just how bad these toxic chemicals really could be. Were the effects only temporary or were we setting ourselves up for some serious health issues down the line? A few moments of picturing us in our perfectly painted & stained home on ventilators was all it took to iron out my priorities: health before home improvement.
So I thought to myself: self, there’s gotta be a way to keep unnecessary chemicals out of our house (and our lungs). So I did a little digging to uncover a few easy switcheroos that could make our house a little safer for us, our beloved poochkins, and the future bambinos. Here’s what I learned:
– Nail polish and nail polish remover are one of the most toxic, carcinogenic products in the house (assuming you keep all your paint, varnish and stain in a detached garage or shed like we do- or use low VOC or no-VOC paints). If giving up the ol’ mani-pedi just isn’t an option, Zoya nailpolish is a water-based organic substitute that’s thankfully carcinogen free (OPI is the world’s worst kind- dripping with formaldehyde, a known cancer causer). And when it comes to nailpoish remover, choosing something that’s acetone free is the way to go (and removing your polish outside keeps other chemicals from hanging around the house for days).
-Topical flea and tick products for your pets (like Advantage or Advantix) are extremely dangerous for children, people in general and even pets (!) – they’re loaded with carcinogenic pesticides and each box has serious warnings about washing your hands thoroughly if you come in contact with the product. We don’t know about you, but each month that we put Burger’s medication on the back of his neck we would accidentally pet him while it was still wet, he’d sit on our couch with it, it would get on our clothes, etc. In essence that dangerous chemical was getting all over our house each month… and we were putting it on our beloved dog! Not anymore. It’s in the trash and our pup (who has never had a flea problem and spends most of his time indoors) is going chemical free. And if he should have an issue, flea and tick shampoos are much less harsh than pesticides (they’re actually called that on the box) like Advantage and Advantix.
– Bleach and ammonia riddled cleaning products are another completely toxic component, which not only pollute your home when you use them but also off-gas (ie: leak into the air) even when they’re stored under the sink. Thankfully, we gave up bleaching our whites a while ago so we didn’t have a big bottle of bleach to get rid of. But we did use some pretty smelly shower spray (Tilex mildew stuff) so we happily made the switch to Mrs. Meyers Shower Cleaner, which is about a million times better for our lungs and still beats any mildew that rears its ugly head. We also grabbed another all purpose cleaning product from Mrs. Meyers for wiping down glass and other surfaces without harsh chemicals of any kind. Easy peasy (and we love that it’s non-toxic just in case Burger gets a lick here or there).
– I also read numerous reports of people switching to a less chemically enhanced laundry detergent and immediately noticing that going back to Tide or Cheer gave them rashes. Sounds like switching to something milder and sticking to it would be good for us and our babies down the line. So we grabbed some über gentle Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent. And we ditched fabric softener altogether (which is also another great way to cut down on chemicals that you wear and breathe every day). The result is still fresh, clean and soft clothes (which makes me wonder if fabric softener really does anything anyway). Really, we didn’t even notice the change (but we’re sure our unborn children will thank us).
– Just to be overachievers, while at Target we also grabbed Tom’s Of Maine Natural Whole Care toothpaste (with fluoride), made with all natural ingredients like peppermint oil. We figured that making that switch now would make it easier for us to pass our healthy habit to our children (who swallow gobs of toothpaste in their younger years). Honestly, this change was something we noticed. The first few days we thought it seemed a little gritty compared to our old toothpaste. But we’ve totally adapted and love the stuff now. And we’ve both noticed that the peppermint oil keeps our mouths feeling clean and smelling fresh longer than the fake flavoring of other brands. Oh and we’ve also switched to natural deodorant without aluminum or phosphates (Tom’s of Maine). Now we’re so fresh and so green.
And now for a few other tips:
-Completely eliminate pesticides (bug bombs in your home, flea and tick pet treatments, lawn pesticides and herbicides, etc)- according to CancerIQ.org the risk of leukemia increases by four to seven times for children ten or under who use home or garden pesticides, and they can also be linked to childhood brain cancer. Yikes!
-Remove the plastic from dry cleaning garments and let them air out outside, in your sunroom, or on your porch for 24 hours before bringing them into your home.
-Choose floss and natural toothpaste over mouthwash (which has a whole buncha chemicals- why do you think you’re not supposed to swallow it?).
-There are a slew of non-toxic, natural, and chemical free products available thanks to Seventh Generation (from dish detergent and hand soap to diapers and even tampons!).
– Limit radiation exposure by avoiding x-rays unless necessary (broken bone= necessary, annual dentist appointment= not necessary).
– Never ever ever heat plastics (packaging that comes with tv dinners, plastic wrap, or tupperware) in the microwave and only use ceramic or glass containers that are microwave safe (carcinogens can leak from the plastic products into you food).
Of course you don’t have to follow all of our above suggestions, and we might have lost you at ditching OPI nail polish, but we love to share what goes on in this young house, and this proved to be a pretty interesting learning experience for us. We’re regularly buying all of these products anyway (from deodorant to dish detergent) so selecting the healthiest options seem like a worthwhile pursuit since we use ’em every day on the only body we get. We also found an extremely helpful website called greenyour.com, which offers actual products to snag (as opposed to a list of what not to buy) when you click the “product” tab in each category. Oh and remember to dispose of any chemicals that you’re removing from your home (paint, bleach, etc) in a safe way, like dropping them off at your local recycling center in the designated toxic chemical area.
And so we (finally) conclude our super long post. Long live longer living!
tricia says
Those are very wise changes you’ve made. I grew up with parents who did home improvements, and I too was a DIY-er. Now at age 46 I’m suffering the effects of all those chemicals….they’ve pretty much destroyed my immune system. A great web site for finding out how toxic or safe products are, is the Enviromental Working Group. http://www.ewg.org/
Kara says
These are AMAZING tips. Thanks for helping me realize how easy it would be to make a few small changes. I’ve started cleaning with more natural products but never gave a second thought to nail polish, laundry detergent, or heating plastics.
Thanks for the tips!
MaryB in Richmond says
I counted five references to bambinos in this post.
Are you hinting, Sherry? Hmmmm?
Jennifer says
Good tips! We are doing most of them already, but there’s some good ones I haven’t thought of before.
On fleas and dogs… you can kill fleas with food grade diatomectious earth scattered around your yard and on your pup. You can also feed your pup 1/2 clove of garlic once a week (just mix it into the food or into a little cheese); this is a great natural repellent. Don’t feed too much garlic, though, because it’s toxic in large quantities.
MaryB in Richmond says
Somebody (I can’t even think who) told me that I shouldn’t store paint in an unheated space, such as in my attached (but unheated) garden shed. So all the paint and primer I’ve been buying is stored in my mudroom — taking up valuable space, and maybe now also killing me. Is it really ok to store paint/primer in an unheated room in Richmond, Virginia?
Sara says
No, not OPI! Uh, my favorite nail polish is weeping with me! I also can not think of all the times I have heated up tv dinners and let’s not get started on the tons o’ tupperware sitting on my shelves. Nice to know some of my favorite things could be harming me! Thanks for the great tips! Now I must search for some cute glass bowls to replace some tupperware. And to think they said they are microwave safe!
YoungHouseLove says
As for the bambino references…. surprise! Just kidding. But I had you there for a second, right? Especially you honey. Nope, babies are definitely in our future, but on hold for now. We have to clean up our act (and our house) first. Maybe in 2009 we’ll talk.
Anyway, so happy you guys are finding our little non-toxic “homework assignment” helpful. Oh and Tracey, OPI may have eliminated some of their nastier ingredients, but they’re still one of the more toxic brands (and still aren’t recommended for use by pregnant women) so you might want to give Zoya (or another favorite: Honeybee Gardens WaterColors) a try since they’re actually water-based organic polish (that looks just as saturated and glossy as the more potent versions you know and love). Just an idea! I found the best color by Honeybee Gardens WaterColors called Burlesque. Swoon. I adore it. Hope that helps!
And everyone: please share any and all of your non-toxic/eco-friendly/greenification tips with us! We love this new arena of information, and are already poking around the http://www.ewg.org link that Tricia supplied. Thanks a million Trish!
As for Jill’s comment about acetone- she’s certainly more of an expert that we are (we’re just jumping on this bandwagon now, and admittedly have a lot to learn along the way). Thanks for the acetone clarification Jill! It’s still pretty stinky stuff, so removing polish outside or just opting for acetone free remover might be helpful to avoid that “chemical fog” feeling that sensitive chicas like me sometimes experience.
Oh and Mary B, we have heard for the safety of the paint that it’s probably not supposed to be in an area where it can freeze, but we figure that Richmond winters are mild enough (and our garage & shed are insulated enough) to keep our big gallons of paint from ever getting even close to freezing so we’re ok. Whew. And even if it could ruin the paint, I’d rather have to get more paint down the line than get sick from keeping my paint safe & sound in the house (at our expense). Hope that helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
jules says
Have you ever tried making your own cleaning supplies? It’s easier than it sounds, and the recipes I’ve used to make counter cleaner and floor cleaners work better than what you find in stores.
Tracey says
Great article! OPI is one of my favorites and beginning in 2006-2007, they eliminated DBP (dibutyl phthalate), toluene, and formaldehyde. yay!
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah, Sherry, I’m with MaryB – are you hinting at something with all those baby references?
-Your husband :)
Jill says
This is something that we should all be more conscientious of. (I wish I had looked for a low/no VOC paint for the whole house that I just painted yesterday! DOH!) But I do want to point out that while inhaling acetone could possibly make you dizzy, it is not a carcinogen. My husband is a chemist and uses it all the time to clean his glassware. (If you don’t believe me, you can google msds acetone.)
By the way, LOVE the blog, you two are so cute and remind me of my husband and I a few years ago.
ALICE says
Great article! We are trying to greenify our life and this has totally given me the push to go out and get new cleaning supplies and laundry detergent. Thanks! :)
Abha says
I think the easiest way to keep your home clean and green is to do away with all the chemical-based household cleaners you can buy at stores, and use a combination of the old classics – warm water and baking soda, or warm water with a dash of vinegar (the ratios don’t really matter, but the water must remain clear and not smell too much of the additions). And baking soda and vinegar are super cheap too (around 99c at most stores). These can clean out toilet bowls, kitchen counters, ovens, floors, sinks, tubs, windows, glassware, etc. A little waiting and scrubbing can get out the harshest stains or gunk. You can even clean and deodorize carpets by sprinkling baking soda on the area to be cleaned, wait 15 minutes, and vaccuum. Voila! In other words, you can clean your WHOLE house in a completely non-toxic manner, and for cheap too.
The Rauths says
way to go on making some green changes. if everyone did just a few things, it would make a difference. we love the seventh generation products. i love avalon organics: deodorant, lotion, wash stuff. the lavender is heavenly. we both love anything toms of maine and our local costco carries the toothpaste and trader joes has the best prices on the wash and lotion.
don’t know how much fruit/veggies ya’ll eat, but you should try washing them with veggie wash; it’s amazing how much gunk it removes (and we buy all local and orangic veggies).
opi is the one thing i’ve had a hard time giving up. at least i don’t keep it in the fridge and only use it about once per month.
Teresa says
For those DIY home projects also check out http://www.greenguard.org. You’ll be surprised how many products exist for home improvement that are green and non-toxic!
Becki says
Quick tip about the Tom’s of Maine toothpaste- be sure you are buying one of their varieties that has fluoride added. They sell a few without and my dentist warned me to be careful not to buy one without the fluoride boost added. He said he had a patient switch to the Tom’s without the fluoride and the patient got a bunch of cavities soon after (previously the patient was cavity free in his 30’s.) A quick double check when purchasing to be sure fluoride is added and you are good to go! We switched to Tom’s 4 years ago and never considered going back- we love it! The first few days are a bit challenging- due to texture and taste- but you will quickly fall in love!
MP says
You can go to dry cleaners that only use organic solvents, which cuts down on the dry cleaning chemicals.
I hate cleaning because I hate breathing in all the chemicals, so thanks for the tips! Maybe I’ll actually clean my bathroom once a week now like I should :-)
Christy says
I have been using Tom’s Strawberry toothpaste for my little guy (now 5) since he’s had teeth. He loves the stuff. The only draw back is the tube is a pain to squeeze the last bit of TP out, worse than normal TP. But if it makes him happy & brushing it is worth it! I have only found it at Wal Mart, and it is not in a noticeable spot either.
Also love Method cleaning products & their soaps! Great topic guys.
I cannot wait to hear of a “This Young Baby”, we can wait for ’09. :)
Amy says
I found out that the aluminum in antiperspirant might cause cancer. There are different schools of thought on this, but I figured it would be something I could change. It was difficult going from my Secret deodorant/antiperspirant to Tom’s of Main natural deordorant (and I still use good ol’ Secret on sweltering days or on hiking trips)…but since I’ve switched, my skin feels better.
I’ve got to thinking about different flea methods for our puppy, Junebug, though. I don’t like the idea of pesticides all over the place!
YoungHouseLove says
Jules & Abha, thanks so much for the push to explore making our own cleaning cocktails (love how easy they sound, and they couldn’t be more affordable). We’ll be sure to report back about that little DIY project. And Teresa- thanks so much for the greenguard.org link- we’ll definitely check it out and share what we find. We’re so glad this topic actually gained some traction- we didn’t know how people would take to it. And we couldn’t be more excited about all the tips and tricks that we’re learning along the way!
Becki, kuddos for mentioning the Tom’s Of Maine fluoride fact- we meant to drop that tip but overlooked it (we snagged the “Whole Care” toothpaste with fluoride and even some natural whitening agents).
Oh and MP, you’re totally right about finding greener laundromats for your dry cleaning. Fabulous idea, and I bet they’ll be popping up more and more now that the country seems to be moving towards more natural methods.
And Christy- you’re so cute. This Young Baby actually sounds super exciting. So stay tuned (and bear with us while we decorate and prepare- heck that sounds fun too). Oh and Amy, Junebug sounds adorable! What a great puppy name. Hamburger sends his sniffs her way. We’ve also heard about the aluminum and the phosphates in deodorant being questionable, so we thought nixing ’em was the best idea. And if you dig up any good natural flea treatments feel free to send them our way! Oh and check out Jennifer’s comment above for a few ideas.
Again, thanks EVERYONE for weighing in and speaking up and passing along your experiences, tips, advice, ideas, and suggestions. Keep ’em coming. We still have so much to learn! And of course, we promise to share it all in an update post sometime in the near future…
xoxo,
Sherry (& John)
Katie says
A cool thing about Tom’s of Maine toothpaste:
When the tube’s empty, you can just toss it with your cans to recycle!
EAM says
I just recently jumped on this bandwagon too, with a few small changes here and there, since my husband is a little reluctant. I try to avoid using paper towels to clean the counters after cooking, and instead bought a set of microfiber rags from Target for $3 that I can just toss in the wash with my towels. I have one for the kitchen and one for the bathrooms. I also recently made my own multi-purpose cleaner (kitchen, bathrooms) using this recipe:
2 T distilled white vinegar
1 t borax (antibacterial agent)
1 1/2 very hot distilled or purified water
1/4 cup castile soap or 1/8 cup liquid dish soap (I use a little less soap, because it has a tendency to get too soapy, plus you can’t fit all of this in a 16 oz bottle).
10-15 drops essential oils (we use chamomile, but you don’t have to use this – just for scent)
1. Mix vinegar and borax in a 16oz spray bottle.
2. Fill will water and shake to dissolve vinegar and borax.
3. Add soap LAST and then add essential oil.
I skipped to EO and just got the peppermint scented Dr. Bonner’s since that is scented with the EO. I love it! Good luck and I look forward to more green posts!
Shannon says
Thanks so much for the great tips about relatively simple ways to make our home less toxic. We put flea treatment on our big dog last night, and I couldn’t stop thinking “pesticides! pesticides! pesticides!” as I was squirting the liquid onto her skin (when the package told me to make sure I didn’t get any on my own!). We’re definitely going to look into treatments that are safer for her and for us. Thanks to Jennifer for the natural flea-repellent tips. We’ll definitely be talking to our vet about it.
And Sherry and John – don’t forget, Richmond is getting BOTH a Whole Foods AND a Trader Joe’s in the next couple of months, so these natural, eco-friendly products will be SO much easier to find and afford! Horray!!
Elizabeth says
Love your eco-post! We switched to all natural cleaning products and personal care products last year. Here’s my list of favorites (and I’m a product testing addict):
http://www.shaklee.com – love the dishsoap/powder, laundry detergent, and laundry brite
http://www.ourhouseworks.com/index.asp – love everything especially the peroxide based disinfectant (goodby bleach) b/c it foams
Euronet USA microfiber cloths (better than paper towels, much better than the cheap kind at Target)
Steam Cleaner – we have the whitewing from allergy buyers club. you can clean your whole house with no cleaning products at all! Great for dust mites too!
sunscreen – keys soap solar rx for every day and either UV natural or Soleo Organics for sport/beach use.
Elizabeth says
I forgot to mention in my last post…Be sure to check with your vet before taking your pet off of flea/tick control. It can be dangerous in parts of the country. Depending on how cold the winter is, you can sometimes get away with not treating in the winter months. Also, be sure to add heartworm preventative if you are currently using a combo topical like Revolution or Promeris and decide to stop using the topical.
Jules says
EAM I use that exact same recipe. It’s wonderful!
Christy says
As for pets, I remember hearing that garlic is a natural pesticide for pets. If you sprinkle a little garlic powder on your pups food it gets in their blood stream & fleas & ticks don’t like the taste. Not sure if my two labs would like it either, but who knows. :p
Other tips from AZ’s Dave the Garden Guy.
http://www.gardenguy.com/
*Dust with natural diatomaceous earth or release beneficial nematodes for fleas, ticks and chiggers.
He also suggest using lavender in your garden is supposed to keep some pest away & I think mint too. Bonus, they smell awesome!
The Home Made Weed Control Recipe:
1 Gallon White Vinegar (Pickling if possible)
1 oz Orange Oil (Zeps – Home Depot or Lowes)
1-2 Drops Joy Liquid Dishsoap
Mix Slowly and use in a sprayer for weeds. Spray on weeds in the hottest time of the day
J&S, You are welcome to use the “thisyoungbaby”. ;-)
Teresa says
I use vinegar instead of fabric softener. My clothes do not come out smelling like vinegar, but they are soft.
ellen says
For chemical-free laundry detergent, I’ve been using “Nellie’s All Natural Super Clean Laundry Nuggets” — I bought them from Delight.com, but I think they’re sold elsewhere. Can’t beat a cute tin! I’ve also been using their dryerballs.
Beth says
These comments are such a great resource! Kudos, J&S, for a post like this. I’m so pleased. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for all the info guys! We’ll definitely have to do more eco-friendly posts in the future to keep the discussion alive. We’re learning so much and we’re so excited that so many of you are so enthused about greenifying your homes as well.
xoxo,
Sherry
rt says
You have very good tips for going green. However, dental x-rays at your annual check-up are important for early prevention and proper treatment. For example, without x-rays, your dentist would not be able to detect all cavities because many are hard to see with the naked eye. As your doctor uses x-rays to see the bones in your body, dentists use it to see into your teeth and jaw bones to maintain proper oral health. It is a little misleading to say that dental x-rays are not necessary.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rt,
We’re definitely still learning and admit that we are by no means the experts on this topic- we’re just sharing all the things that we have learned in our new non-toxic journey (all from reputable websites and books). We definitely recognize that there are different schools of thought on a lot of the tips that we have included in our post and we welcome comments like yours to keep the dialog going and to help us absorb even more information as we continue our quest to greenify our home and our lives. Thanks so much for taking the time to weigh in!
xoxo,
Sherry (& John)
Kirsten says
To conserve water I water my plants with baby’s bathwater. We use totally biodegradable soap (Dr. Bronners) if we use soap at all (nasty hippie’s…yeah yeah I know)and the plants don’t seem to mind.
Jamie says
I just found your website and love it! My husband and I live in an 83 year old house so this site is great to reference while we work on fixing it up! Thanks for the tips on keeping toxins out of the house. After I read it I went into my bathroom and threw away all my OPI nail polish and then jumped online and ordered some Zoya polish.
P.S. Some dentists now offer digital x-rays, which are much safer than the older traditional x-ray machines.
Susan says
I just came across this post as well, and became very concerned with all the projects that I have done and applied a couple coats of Polyurethane to finish them. I’m not sure why I haven’t thought of this before, but since it is very toxic, I’m wondering if you guys have any non-toxic solutions to this?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Susan,
There are definitely non toxic polyurethane substitutes that you can find online (and maybe even at Home Depot and Lowe’s – they’re getting more progressive every day). You can also minimize the air pollution by using poly in an outdoor area and letting the piece to dry outside (or in a garage) for as long as two weeks to minimize the offgassing. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
CLT Hooiser says
Question for you. Do you think it’s bad to leave used paintbrushes (used for latex or stain) in the fridge. Will it contaminate the food ?
It worries me because my wife does it !
YoungHouseLove says
Hey CLT Hooiser,
Good question! We’re definitely not experts on the subject at all (disclaimer!) but now that you mention it, there’s definitely a chance that the paint/stain fumes may become airborne in your fridge and could possibly seep into your food. Although we’ve heard that tons of people use the fridge method to maintain their brushes between washes, maybe you should research it further (and perhaps use a different storage method) until you’re sure it’s 100% safe. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Terry Garrard says
What container products do you suggest using for heating lunch in the microwave at work?
Or do you suggest cold salads/sandwiches at lunch instead?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Terry,
We’ve been using glass or pyrex containers for heating our lunches. The only catch is that most of those containers we found have plastic tops. We just leave those off and cover the meal with a papertowel or napkin if it needs covering.
Hope that helps,
John
Lindy says
I was considering switching to some of these safer products and researching on ewg.org (skin deep). Just wondered if you noticed all of the Jason Natural products listed with the worst rating of a “10”
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lindy,
Great point! We’ve actually heard that Alba, Jason, Method and Kiss My Face (although they label themselves as natural and organic) are not as non-toxic and pure as other brands out there (like Dr. Bronners, Avalon Organics, Aubrey Organics)- which is why we try to stick to those. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
kate says
oh my gosh! I’m so glad I read this! I am addicted to nail polish and probably have about thirty OPI polishes…I had no idea they were so toxic
Jennifer says
You’ve inspired me. I just took a trip to Target to look for natural household cleaners.
I was about to buy Mrs. Meyers, but I saw J.R. Watkins right next to it. I admit, I’m a sucker for cute packaging! Just look at it: http://www.jrwatkins.com/
Have you heard anything about this line of products?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually recently tried their lemon hand soap in our new bathroom and we love it! Totally natural and you’re right- the packaging is great!
xo,
s
Christy says
Curious if you use a microwave? We ditched ours for health reasons. There is a lot of information out there, as I’m sure you know, that really gives you the inside scoop to how dangerous they really are to our health. I used the microwave every day & numerous times a day, so when my husband suggested that we get rid of it, I was a bit hesitant. However, I agreed to ditch it only if we replaced it (immediately) with a toaster oven and we have never looked back or regretted it! Food tastes so much better too! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Funnily enough I grew up without a microwave since my mom is an old school Italian woman who wanted us to boil water every time we made oatmeal and hot cocoa. Perhaps as an act of rebellion as a grown up I love my microwave for the convenience that it adds to my life. But of course I don’t microwave anything plastic (we use glass “tupperware” containers in our house) and we’re sure to keep the microwave in top shape (we’ve heard that they’re dangerous only when the seal is worn down or broken and we replaced ours with something new two years ago in our kitchen reno). It’s definitely a personal choice and for us it’s all about balance. We do what we can and make small good-for-us changes as we go. Who knows if we’ll use our microwave in a few years or not but for now we try to just use it sparingly with glass containers. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Christy says
Have you tried the Better Life products?
http://www.cleanhappens.com/products/
They sound absolutely great & have rave reviews. Curious if you have had any experience with them?
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, we’ve never tried them but we love hearing about new products and companies. We’ll definitely look into them…
xo,
s
Joanna says
Love your blog! I am surprised that this had not been mentioned before, but have you checked out Charlie’s Soap? It is biodegradable and non-toxic and is the best laundry detergent that I have ever used. It is also great for cloth diapers. Their All-Purpose cleaner is also the best that I have every used. It has cleaned things that the most harsh (and bad) cleaners wouldn’t touch, including a misfortunate paint incident on carpet and hard water and iron spots from our shower. Yes, it removed paint! Wonderful stuff and wonderful small family owned company to work with.
http://www.charliesoap.com
YoungHouseLove says
We actually haven’t tried their stuff yet but we’ve heard nothing but good things about them. Thanks for the suggestion! We’ll have to take them for a spin soon.
xo,
s
Melissa says
Do you have any recommendations for how to control spiders without using pesticides in the home? We live in a fairly wooded area and have so many spiders (huge spiders at that). I’d love to not use anything to kill them, but they get out of control in our basement. Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Offhand we don’t know of anything that helps with spiders but we do have this post about natural (and not so natural) pet control methods so it might come in handy (be sure to check out the comments for even more ideas and tips): https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/11/calling-all-experts-critter-control/
Of course you can also check google for some all-natural ideas. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Marci says
White vinegar is an amazing non-toxic cleaning tool. Also a germicide. First used it to remove black tea stains from a white shirt. You can google to find cleaner recipes using vinegar and other non-toxic household products to make your own inexpensive cleaning products.
natalie says
sherry, i realize this is a way old post so i am not sure if you’ll see this, but just in case – are you still using tom’s of maine brand deodorant? when i switched to organic/natural products, i was told not to use anything that had propylene glycol in it, as that is basically lighter fluid; and that is the first ingredient listed in the tom’s of maine deodorant (obv meaning the ingredient with the greatest concentration). if you are using something else, or if you have heard that it’s an ingredient not to be too worried about, i’d appreciate the info! thanks
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Natalie,
We actually have never heard that but have read many reviews that are extremely positive about Tom’s Of Maine and have personally enjoyed using it so it’s still what we buy to this day. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mallory says
Love your blog. I have some advice for the dental xrays that you suggested were possibly not needed.
The newer digital x-rays use less radiation than the older kind (equivalent to about the same amount of radiation you would get from sitting in the sun for twenty minutes). So make sure you find a super savvy dentist who is up to date on all his or her equipment.
Unless you have never had problems with dental decay or are pregnant I would suggest doing your yearly x-rays (dentists don’t have xray vision so until they do how can they see between your teeth?). Otherwise you could risk decay getting out of control and end up needing a filling (amalgam contain mercury and composite-the tooth colored fillings contain plastic). Bonus! if your dentist finds the start of a cavity early you can fight it off with tons of flossing and flouride.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tips Mallory!
xo,
s
patty says
Where do you buy Honeybee Garden watercolor nail polish? on-line? Is that brand found in any common stores, like Target?
YoungHouseLove says
I found that in a local green grocery store called Ellwood Thompson. Maybe you can order it online as well? Good luck!
xo,
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Jackie says
Hi Sherry and John,
First of all, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR WEBSITE! I love how you’ve documented everything to share with others. I am a DIY-er myself, and have thought of a million crazy things, but never have I thought of documenting them. It is such a great way to look back at what was and what is now.
Anyway, while we’re on the green subject, here is a link to how you can make your own cleaning stuff without all the nasties…http://wendylsgreengoddess.co.nz/Cleaning_Recipes.php
Because I’m from New Zealand, I thought I’d share with you a local. Enjoy!
xo
YoungHouseLove says
Love it so much! Thanks so much for sharing!
xo,
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